Gloria Chappa

Compassion, Passion and Fashion

Gloria G Chappa, known for her passion compassion and fashion was the last of her generation of the Garofoli/Basista clans, passed away at age 96 on May 20th, 2025. She was a special person who was upbeat with compassion to everyone she interacted with. She lived a comfortable life surrounded by her family and friends and made the world around her a better place.

Gloria and her two sisters, Helen and Teresa were born in the Bronx, New York in a walk-up apartment with family and lifelong friends on the floors of the tenement building. The sense of community comes from having an extended family living and celebrating their Italian heritage in their neighborhood. The daughter of immigrants from Como, Italy had some surviving home movies of family picnics with a large kettle of pasta being cooked at a barbeque in a park rather than the traditional burgers and dogs.

Gloria was a mother of Jody, Tom and Brian and with her first husband Ed lived in Massapequa Park, Long Island, Cherry Hill, New Jersey before settling in Wayne, New Jersey. In addition to being a home maker, Gloria had several jobs after her children grew up but her work at Passaic County Vocational High School gave her the most satisfaction working as an administrative assistant until her retirement at age 90.

Gloria was a deeply religious person who regularly attended services and whose compassion for children and underserved communities allowed her to donate her time to several charities including St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Gloria had an eye and passion for fashion and home décor. Her mother was an accomplished seamstress who made and embroidered clothing for Gloria and her granddaughters. For her entire life she was always well dressed and had a large wardrobe of clothes. Gloria was constantly decorating, redesigning and moving furniture creating warm and inviting homes. In her later stages of her life, she enjoyed arts and crafts including painting and dried flower arrangements.

Gloria’s first husband and father to her children, Ed Basista, shared a life in Wayne, New Jersey enjoying dancing, watching movies, hosting friends and cooking. Nobody ever left Gloria’s home, being hungry with her being a fantastic cook and baker, guests always left with a care package of baked goods and desserts. Gloria had 4 grandchildren Brent, Michael, Mathew and Mark and a great grandson, Sonny. Her family meant everything, and she was generous with gifts and giving advice at family holiday gatherings and on the telephone. Goria’s second husband Joe was also from Wayne New Jersey.